Belinda’s Book Nook Review: The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce

August 25, 2016 by Leave a Comment

PilgrimageofHaroldFry

Title: The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry
Author: Rachel Joyce
Copyright: March 15, 2012
Genre: fiction
Format: book  Pages: 320

This was a book club selection for August. I checked it out of the library since all of the digital copies were out.

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

Harold Fry is convinced that he must deliver a letter to an old friend in order to save her, meeting various characters along the way and reminiscing about the events of his past and people he has known, as he tries to find peace and acceptance.

Recently retired, sweet, emotionally numb Harold Fry is jolted out of his passivity by a letter from Queenie Hennessy, an old friend, who he hasn’t heard from in twenty years. She has written to say she is in hospice and wanted to say goodbye. Leaving his tense, bitter wife Maureen to her chores, Harold intends a quick walk to the corner mailbox to post his reply but instead, inspired by a chance encounter, he becomes convinced he must deliver his message in person to Queenie–who is 600 miles away–because as long as he keeps walking, Harold believes that Queenie will not die.

So without hiking boots, rain gear, map or cell phone, one of the most endearing characters in current fiction begins his unlikely pilgrimage across the English countryside. Along the way, strangers stir up memories–flashbacks, often painful, from when his marriage was filled with promise and then not, of his inadequacy as a father, and of his shortcomings as a husband.

Ironically, his wife Maureen, shocked by her husband’s sudden absence, begins to long for his presence. Is it possible for Harold and Maureen to bridge the distance between them? And will Queenie be alive to see Harold arrive at her door?

My Thoughts:

I thought this book started out fine and then slowed for me a little bit then about half way through it picked up a bit and then I began to enjoy the story. I liked reading about the small English village in which Harold lived. But the mystery of Harold’s relationship with Queenie piqued my interest throughout the book.

Reading about the people that Harold meets along the way, was also moved the story along. Something that seemed so crazy like walking such a distance began to unfold into much more. The solitary walks gave Harold time to work through his life issues and to really connect with nature. They helped him to explore the relationship between Harold and his wife, Harold and Queenie and Harold with the people he meets on his journey.

I would not ordinarily pick up this book to read but that is the beauty of a book club. They can take you out of your comfort zone. That said, I would like to give this book 3 butterflies.

Happy Reading!

Belinda

3rating

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Belinda’s Book Nook Review: In Other Words by Jhumpa Lahiri

August 23, 2016 by Leave a Comment

inotherwords

Title: In Other Words
Author: Jhumpa Lahiri
Copyright: February 9, 2016
Genre: fiction
Format: book & audio book  Pages: 233 Translator: Ann Goldstein

I own several of Jhumpa Lahiri’s books and have yet to read one. But this one was in the new book section at our library and I thought it was a fine time to read it. I had the audiobook on hold from Overdrive and it came in the same day I came home from the library. If that’s not a sign! So I began reading and switched back and forth. The format is so unusual – it is called a dual-language format. So on one page she wrote in Italian and the interpreter translated it into English on each facing page. So you can look back and forth to see the Italian equivalents throughout the book. The audio version reads the entire book in English first and then again in Italian.

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

From the Pulitzer Prize winner, a surprising, powerful, and eloquent nonfiction debut

In Other Words is at heart a love story—of a long and sometimes difficult courtship, and a passion that verges on obsession: that of a writer for another language. For Jhumpa Lahiri, that love was for Italian, which first captivated and capsized her during a trip to Florence after college. And although Lahiri studied Italian for many years afterward, true mastery had always eluded her. So in 2012, seeking full immersion, she decided to move to Rome with her family, for “a trial by fire, a sort of baptism” into a new language and world.

In Rome, Lahiri began to read, and to write—initially in her journal—solely in Italian. In Other Words, an autobiographical work written in Italian, investigates the process of learning to express oneself in another language, and describes the journey of a writer seeking a new voice.

My thoughts:

My mom could speak some Italian from the years she lived there and I always wanted to learn. I was doing great trying to teach myself and I even took an adult class several years ago. But then life seemed to put that goal on hold. So when I read about this book, I was intrigued to see her reasons for learning and her thoughts about how to learn a language.

I was impressed how her family picked up and moved with her to Italy to pursue her desire to learn the language. She spoke a lot about the need to be immersed in the language and how learning in America didn’t really prepare her as much as she once thought when she was among native speakers. She also explored the immigrant experience. How she always feels like an outsider whether she is in America or in Italy. Wanting to fit in but never quite feeling it. This is such an interesting an prevalent topic in books as of late and I am always interested in the different perspectives.

Overall, I felt it was a good book and happy I did pick it up. I still love the thought of learning a language but must focus on my current endeavors. I give this book three butterflies.

Happy reading!3rating

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Belinda’s Book Nook Review: Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

July 21, 2016 by Leave a Comment

me-before-you1

Title: Me Before You
Author: Jojo Moyes
Copyright: December 31st 2012
Genre: fiction
Format: book  Pages: 369

Wow, it’s been a while since I have written a review. Don’t be fooled, because I have still been ferociously reading books! This is one I recently read on vacation and completed it’s final chapters at home.

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

Lou Clark knows lots of things. She knows how many footsteps there are between the bus stop and home. She knows she likes working in The Buttered Bun tea shop and she knows she might not love her boyfriend Patrick.

What Lou doesn’t know is she’s about to lose her job or that knowing what’s coming is what keeps her sane.

Will Traynor knows his motorcycle accident took away his desire to live. He knows everything feels very small and rather joyless now and he knows exactly how he’s going to put a stop to that.

What Will doesn’t know is that Lou is about to burst into his world in a riot of colour. And neither of them knows they’re going to change the other for all time.

My Thoughts:

I have been hearing about this book for some time.  It’s not a new book but last year it was all the buzz and I typically shy away from all that stuff. So when I knew we were going on vacation, I thought this would be a great beach read.  It’s also been made into a movie. So I started it before leaving to make sure I would enjoy it. I felt drawn in pretty fast to the story.

I enjoyed the building of the story in this book. I liked getting to know the two main character’s backgrounds prior to meeting each other. Often times, I found myself laughing out loud when the book focused on Lou’s family life.  I felt like I was reading lines from a funny TV sitcom. I felt both Lou and Will had their flaws but under the circumstances acted appropriately. I enjoyed the slow burn romance and that it didn’t take away from the story.

My take away from this book might not be the typical but after reading it, I think we must really examine the folllowing questions:

What we define as a quality life? What rights do we have over our life and death? How we see the physically disabled community? Why much of the disabled community is hidden from mainstream?

In the book, Will frequently brings up that he hates the fact that he either receives the pity look or people try to pretend that they ignore him. He argued that people no longer see the person in the wheel chair. I had to stop and think about my own experience and take a critical look at my own shortcomings. Because I have been guilty of both.  But I also think that because many venues are not truly compliant for the disabled, they often aren’t seen in large numbers on an average day. That is  a problem. All buildings should be truly accessible for all so that everyone has a choice to participate and feel welcome. But this lack of exposure cheats everyone of opportunities to meet great people and to practice really seeing the person not their disability. I am sure this book wasn’t intended to be an advocacy book but it has struck a cord in me regarding these topics.

I had a girlfriend in college that went home for the weekend and came back several months later with one leg gone from an accident. I watched how hard it was for her to navigate the buildings and for the first time, I really thought about it. This book brought up those feelings again.

I enjoyed the story, the characters and the feelings that have arisen because of it. Now the question is, will I read the next book?  At this time I say no, because I am satisfied with the ending of book one and fear book two may spoil it. But I may change my mind later. Do I recommend this book to you? Yes, I do. I think it’s a nice summer read and I also hope an advocate for changes in mindset if nothing else regarding the disabled community.

Happy reading my friends!

Belinda

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Belinda’s Book Nook Book Review: Sleeping Giants by Sylvain Neuvel

June 24, 2016 by Leave a Comment

Sleeping Giants

Title: Sleeping Giants
Author: Sylvain Neuvel
Copyright: April 26th 2016
Genre: science fiction
Format: e-book  Pages: 320

Wow, it’s been a while since I have written a review. Don’t be fooled, because I have still been ferociously reading books! This is one I recently read.

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

A girl named Rose is riding her new bike near her home in Deadwood, South Dakota, when she falls through the earth. She wakes up at the bottom of a square hole, its walls glowing with intricate carvings. But the firemen who come to save her peer down upon something even stranger: a little girl in the palm of a giant metal hand.

Seventeen years later, the mystery of the bizarre artifact remains unsolved—its origins, architects, and purpose unknown. Its carbon dating defies belief; military reports are redacted; theories are floated, then rejected.

But some can never stop searching for answers.

Rose Franklin is now a highly trained physicist leading a top secret team to crack the hand’s code. And along with her colleagues, she is being interviewed by a nameless interrogator whose power and purview are as enigmatic as the provenance of the relic. What’s clear is that Rose and her compatriots are on the edge of unraveling history’s most perplexing discovery—and figuring out what it portends for humanity. But once the pieces of the puzzle are in place, will the result prove to be an instrument of lasting peace or a weapon of mass destruction?

My Thoughts:

I heard about this book from the online book community and it sounded like a good sci-fi fix. So I placed it on an e-book hold before it was released.  I was more than thrilled to receive the email informing it was available from the library to read.

I jumped right in and honestly found this book so easy to step into. I wasn’t sure if I would go for the interview transcripts format but I actually loved it. It kept the pace moving nicely while making it easy for the reader to keep up. What draws me to science fiction is the possibilities, the unknown, and the mystery. This book had a little of each. So I was pleasantly satisfied.

I don’t want to spoil this book for any intended readers so I won’t say more except that it was a fast read and very enjoyable. I also should point out, that it is the first book in what might be a series or a trilogy. Not sure which. But to be honest, it was a great stand alone read too.

I will be back with more books soon. Because I have been devouring so many. I hope you fill your summer with great reading adventures. They sure do make the summer even more special for me.

Although I enjoy science fiction, I can’t say I have read a lot, but from my perspective, I would rate this book a 4 1/2.

Happy reading!

Belinda

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